High-performance all-organic aqueous batteries based on a poly(imide) anode and poly(catechol) cathode

Aqueous all-polymer batteries (AqPBs) are foreseen as promising solutions for safe, sustainable, and high-performance energy storage applications. Nevertheless, their development is still challenging as it demands precise optimization of both electrodes and the electrolyte composition to be able to sustain a stable redox activity, while delivering an optimal voltage output. Herein, we report AqPBs based on a poly(imide) (PI) anode and poly(catechol) (PC) cathode that exhibit tunable cell voltage depending on the salt used in the aqueous electrolyte, i.e., 0.58, 0.74, 0.89, and 0.95 V, respectively, when Li+, Zn2+, Al3+, and Li+/H+ were utilized as charge carriers. The PI-PC full-cell delivers the best rate performance (a sub-second charge/discharge) and cycling stability (80% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 5 A g(-1)) in Li+. Furthermore, a maximum energy/power density of 80.6 W h kg(anode+cathode)(-1)/348 kW kg(anode+cathode)(-1) is achieved in Li+/H+, superior to most of the previously reported AqPBs.

Automated summary

Aqueous all-polymer batteries (AqPBs) are considered promising solutions for safe, sustainable, and high-performance energy storage applications. The development of such batteries, however, requires precise optimization of both electrodes and the electrolyte composition in order to maintain stable redox activity and deliver optimal voltage output. A specific AqPB system using a poly(imide) (PI) anode and poly(catechol) (PC) cathode has been shown to exhibit tunable cell voltage depending on the salt used in the aqueous electrolyte, achieving a maximum energy/power density of 80.6 W h kg(anode+cathode)(-1)/348 kW kg(anode+cathode)(-1) in Li+/H+, surpassing previously reported AqPB systems.